President Thabo Mbeki gave his clearest indication yet on Wednesday of his preferred choice of successor, heaping praise on his official deputy Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

Mbeki, who has previously said he would like a woman to succeed him when he completes his second and final term in 2009, told Parliament Mlambo-Ngcuka was â€œa true leader of the people”.

Speaking during a debate in Parliament, he said the country’s most senior female politician had shown her ability to exercise â€œeffective leadership in what is still a predominantly masculine world” since her surprise appointment two years ago from the relative obscurity of her role as minerals and energy minister. He also paid tribute to her â€œinstinctive comradeship and ability to listen”.

The governing African National Congress is due to elect a new president in December, a position which is currently held by Mbeki and has traditionally been seen as a stepping stone to the post of head of state.

No one has formally declared their candidacy but Mlambo-Ngcuka is one of several names that have been bandied about, including ANC deputy leader Jacob Zuma who was the previous deputy head of state before being sacked in June 2005.